The first coupling ceremony of the 2025 All Stars season has taken place – mixing contestants from across the years into new pairings. One couple, however, have dated before…

A string of familiar faces have returned to the Love Island villa for a second chance at romance – and the first couples of the season have been unvieled.

Maya Jama is back in South Africa to preside over the action from the villa in the second season of spin-off show Love Island: All Stars – which sees past contestants return in the hope of sparking a relationship that can last for good. Past hopefuls from seasons two until 11 have returned hoping they can unlock love a second time around – and not get pied off.

Things have been slightly awkward, however, as Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville have both returned to the villa. Fans will recall that they both appeared in season three of the main Love island show in 2017 – and that they dated in the villa.

And it appears love could be set to go through the gauntlet for the pair again – as they are one of the first couplings of the 2025 All Stars season. Show host Maya highlighted the fact that the pair have history – asking at the fire pit: “You ok Gabby?”

Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville have reunited after previously dating ( 
Image:
ITV)

The 32-year-old replied: “Yeah, I’m great. It’s fine, it was a long time ago… I just haven’t seen him since.” Prompting Maya to then ask: “Gabby, did you expect to see your ex on All Stars?”

Gabby then replied: “No… [it’s been] six years!” While Marcel, 39, added: “Crazy things happened, but I do feel like afterwards we did speak and get to an amicable place. I haven’t got bad blood for Gabby. The universe has a funny way of bringing you back to things.”

The other couplings were between untested duos – with season four contestant Kaz Crossley matching with season five favourite Curtis Pritchard. India Reynolds, who was also in season five, was paired with iconic season two contestant Scott Thomas.

Catherine Agbaje, who Love Island fans will recall from season 10, was matched with Nas Majeed – who was in the cast of season six in 2020. While season nine’s Olivia Hawkins was matched with fan favourite Luca Bish – who appeared in season eight of the series and famously matched with Gemma Owen, only for their romance to collapse once they were away from the villa.

The final couple for the second season of Love Island: All Stars was Elma Pazar and Ronnie Vint – who previously appeared in seasons five and 11 respectively.

During the course of the opening episode, viewers watched Marcel and Gabby catch up after they entered the villa. Taking her to one side, Marcel asked Gabs: “Are you OK?” before they embraced in a hug.

Gabby admitted: “I have mixed feelings about you. It’s nice to see you, but I also think you’re a kn*b. Do you know what I mean?” And Marcel replied: “We both just lived since innit… it’s bringing back that past.” Gabby then said: “It feels weird. When you actually think about what happened, Marce, what the f***?”